Nutcracker.



R` C. ABT.

NUTCRACKER.

APPLICATION F1LED NOV. 9, 1916 1,289y351 o Patented D60. 31, 1918.

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ROBERT C. ABT, OF CHCAGO, ILLNOIS.

NUTCRACKER.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. ABT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain-new and u seful Improvements in Nutcrackers,.of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as nut crackers, and relates particularly to a simple and convenient device to be used for cracking'. or crushing the shells of the nuts. The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, convenient, durable, eiiicient, ornamental, attractive and satisfactory. It has particularly afs an object the production of a convenlent nut cracking device having a suitable and ornamental base for carrying the cracking Ydevice, which base may be supported on a table kor like support, or held on the knees or in the lap, the same being preferably formed to hold `the nutsto be cracked as well as the crackedl nuts, if desired, and the fragments of the shells. The invention has further among its objects the production of a device suitable for all sizes of nuts, as well as nuts having 'extremely tough shells or thin shells that may be more easily fractured. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious from the disclosure herein made. v

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and com-A bination of `parts herein shown'and-v described, and moreparticularly pointed out inthe claims.

Inthe drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, p

Figure 1 `is a sectional view of one form of the device takensubstantiallybn line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substan tiallyon line 2 2 of Fig. 1;"

Fig. 3 is a lsectional view taken tially online 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a slight modification.

Referring to .the drawings, 1 represents what may 'be termed a base, which is preferably recessedor formed as at 2 to substantially constitute a receptacle, 3 being the rim of the receptacle extending thereabouh The base on the interior at the center is Specification of Letters latent.

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Application iled November 9, 1916. Serial No. 130,412.

formed with a tace 4 of the desired size arranged to support and brace the cracker frame, as hereafter described. The'base is also provided with a hole or opening 5 eX- tending therethrough at the center with a shoulder 6 arranged at the lower end, the 'base being substantially countersunk at the under side to form the shoulder 6. Y

The cracker frame consists of the upright 8, having a base 9 arranged to seat on face 4, and provided with a lug 10 of a size to extend into the opening or hole 5, and pret erably lie substantially Hush at the end with the shoulder 6.l 1n the construction shown the under side of 'the base is formed with one or more lugs or ribs 11 arranged to project into recesses in the base l, so that the frame is not rotatable on the base. l1`he frame shown is formed with a nut cracking or crushing face 12 at the upper side of its base 9, and at the top the Sallie is provided with an extension' 13 formed with an opening and internally threaded thereat. 1t Will be noted that the part 13 is above the base 9, the part 8 being substantially an offset web, which surrounds the base on a-plurality of sides. r1`he frame may be secured to the base 1 in any desired manner. As shown, bolt 14 extends through the part l0 and engages a nut 15. A washer 16 may be arranged as shown, the same Ibeing of suicient size to overlie the base and engage at the shoulder 6. @t course if the nut 15 is of sufficient size the washer 16 may be omitted.

Carried by the frame 8 is a threaded rod or bar 17,v4 which projects through the eX- t-ension 13 of the frame and rotatably engages With the thread formed therein. The upper end of the threaded rod 17 is provided with a cross-bar or operating handle 18, or the equivalentfor the purpose. The

`lower end of rod 17 or the end adjacent the face l2, may be formed as at 19, or in an equivalent manner, Aso that when a nut is placed substantially as indicated at 20 (dotted lines) the same will be engaged by the end 19 and by ythe face 12. As before mentioned, the part 8 is substantially Offset, andorms` a guard open `atone side about a portion of the rod 17. llf desired, a guard 21 may be arranged at the open side of the part 8, as shown, the same addin somewhat to'the appearance, and if su ciently eX- tended, the same will prevent portions of the nut shells or small splinters flying and dropping outside of therim ofthe base 1, v

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In using the device the rod 17 is turned soV as to raise theend 19. The nut may then be placed under the same and the rod 17 turned so as to engage and crush the nut. The base 1 is not only suitable to carry the nuts to be cracked, but it may also carry the cracked nuts, and particularly' the shells resulting from cracking or crushing of the nuts. The sa e is particularly convenient, as it catches ty e fragments of cracked shells and permits the dev/ice to be held on thelap without danger ofv having shells drop on,

the floor. It also permit-s the application of greater pressure on the nut, as Owing to the 'size of the same, it may be easily gripped with the hand and a considerable leverage obtained, when the handle 1S is turned. `Where the base 1 is omitted If find that there is a tendency for the frame 8 to` slip and turn in the hand. Owing to the particular construction shown, however, the frame' is rigidlyiand non-rotatably held'by the base 1, andcon'siderable power may be applied to the nut by the rod. Owing'to the iinproved method of fastening the two parts together, lthere isp-no danger of the base or bowl 1 being cracked 0r broken, nor for the lcracker to become loosef and Wabble thereon.

This is particularly important where theA bowl is njade of wood,I papier mche or like material,"` of `ligllt weight and easily fractured.

'The construction shown in Fig. 4j is very similar, 1 beingathe base or bowl carrying i parting the,` frame 8, which is secured in place by thefscrew 14 and washer 16, and carries the rod 17 having a head 18, which rod extends through the part 13 of the frame. I have shownftlre part 10 threaded intol the bowl or base. yIn this ease I have shown a pivoted batlie or guard 21', which is pivotally securedat tOthe framel This may be dropped downy while the `nut is being cracked, the samepreventing any fragments of the shell of the nut flying out over the edge ofnthe bowl ori` base. The samev also adds to `the appearance of the device.' While the rim of tliegbase is ordinarily made of the height indicated in Fig. 1 in the full lines, it may, ifdesired, be made higher, as indicated at in the dotted lines.

*Havingytlnlsi described my invention, it is obvious lthat various immaterial modificationsrnaybe made in the same without dehence I do not wish te be understood as ystribing witnesses.

from the spirit. of my invention;l

tion, said upstanding partv being offset to f aline said adjustable nut cracking means withsaid base portion, the side edges of said upst-anding portion being lturned outwardly at points located inwardly of and above the base portion t0 provide a widened flaring open side por/tion t0 accommodate the fingers of the operator and facilitate the introductionand removal of a nut.

2. A nut cracker comprising a base portion having an upstanding part oset to overhang the base portion and carrying an adjustable nut cracking means alined with the base portion, the edges of the base portion opposite the said upstanding'part being free to provide an Opening thereabove and at its sides, and an outwardly and downwardly curved elongated depending apron-like guard extending downwardly alongside the said adjustable nut cracking means and-ter.- f

niinating above the relatively freeedge ofi the base portion to constitute a hood for the purpose described.

3. A nut cracker comprising a base portion having an upstanding part offsetjto overhang the'base portion and carrying an adjustable nut cracking means alined with the base portion, the edges of the base portion opposite said upstanding ineans being free to provide an opening thereabove and at its sidesfa depending apronlike guardextending a substantial distance downwardly alongside the said adjustable nut cracking -means and terminatingabove the relatively free edges of the base, and means for securing said apron-like guard for separate opening movement outwardly to enlarge the said opening through which the nut may be introduced or withdrawn.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub- A ROBERT C. ABTn Witnesses:

ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. Conn. 

